“Word of a cavalier!” answered Kuklinovski, “that I speak sincerely, and not because I am filling the function of an envoy. Outside the gate I am no longer an envoy; and if you wish I will remove the office of envoy of my own will, and speak to you as a private man. Throw that vile fortress to the devil!” “Do you say this as a private man?” “Yes.” “And may I give answer to you as to a private man?” “As true as life I propose it myself.” “Then listen, Pan Kuklinovski,” Here Kmita inclined and looked into the very eyes of the ruffian. “You are a rascal, a traitor, a scoundrel, a crab-monger, an arch-cur! Have you enough, or shall I spit in your eyes yet?” Kuklinovski was astounded to such a degree that for a time there was silence. “What is this? How is this? Do I hear correctly?” “Have you enough, you cur? or do you wish me to spit in your eyes?” Kuklinovski drew his sabre; but Kmita caught him with his iron hand by the wrist, twisted his arm, wrested the sabre from him, then slapped him on the cheek so that the sound went out in the darkness; seized him by the other side, turned him in his hand like a top, and kicking him with all his strength, cried,— “To a private man, not to an envoy!” Kuklinovski rolled down like a stone thrown from a ballista. Pan Andrei went quietly to the gate. The two men parted on the slope of the eminence; hence it was difficult to see them from the walls. But Kmita found waiting for him at the gate Kordetski, who took him aside at once, and asked,— “What were you doing so long with Kuklinovski.” “I was entering into confidence with him,” answered Pan Andrei. “What did he say?” “He said that it was true concerning the Khan.” “Praise be to God, who can change the hearts of pagans and make friends out of enemies.” “He told me that Great Poland is moving.” “Praise be to God!” “That the quarter soldiers are more and more unwilling to remain with the Swedes; that in Podlyasye, the voevoda of Vityebsk, Sapyeha, has beaten the traitor Radzivill, and that he has all honest people with him. As all Lithuania stands by him, except Jmud, which De la Gardie has taken.” “Praise be to God! Have you had no other talk with each other?” “Yes; Kuklinovski tried afterward to persuade me to go over to the Swedes.” “I expected that,” said the prior; “he is a bad man. And what did you answer?” “You see he told me, revered father, as follows: ‘I put aside my office of envoy, which without that is finished beyond the gates, and I persuade you as a private man.’ And I to make sure asked, ‘May I answer as to a private man?’ He said, ‘Yes’—then—” “What then?” “Then I gave it to him in the snout, and he rolled down hill.” “In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” “Be not angry, father; I acted very carefully, and that he will not say a word about the matter to any man is certain.”